23 January 2026: MAINS CURRENT AFFAIRS

MAINS Current Affairs includes SC: Freebies Not the Same as Welfare Aimed at the Marginalised & China’s Military Exercise Near Taiwan & Its Significance for India

Polity and Governance

1. SC: Freebies Not the Same as Welfare Aimed at the Marginalised

Context

The Supreme Court clarified that welfare measures differ from freebies, noting that distributing large portions of public funds to individuals is not comparable to investing in essential public welfare.

About

Multiple petitions have demanded a judicial ruling declaring that unreasonable freebies announced by political parties to attract voters during elections should qualify as a “corrupt practice.”
SC Observations: Welfare initiatives such as free education and healthcare fall under constitutional duties outlined in the Directive Principles of State Policy.
The Court cautioned that uncontrolled distribution of freebies weakens state finances, increases debt burdens, and limits resources for long-term development.
The Bench also noted that excessive giveaways may foster dependency, discouraging work and reducing participation in economic activity.

What Are Freebies?

Freebies refer to non-merit, consumption-focused benefits that do not contribute to durable public assets and are usually intended for immediate relief or political gain.
Political parties often use them by offering free goods, services or subsidies, particularly before elections, to influence voter support.
The term “revdi” is used symbolically for such free distributions, invoking the idea of handing out easy gifts.
Section 123 of the RP Act defines ‘corrupt practices,’ stating that providing any gift, gratification, or promise of benefit to voters—directly or indirectly—by a candidate or associated persons constitutes a corrupt act.

Arguments in Favour of Freebies

Social Welfare: Freebies can offer quick assistance to economically weaker groups, easing poverty and reducing inequality.
Empowerment: They can uplift marginalized sections — including women, students, and low-income families — by offering support like cash transfers or free education.
Boost to Consumption: Benefits such as free gas or electricity enhance disposable income, enabling families to spend on other essentials and stimulating economic activity.
Governance Incentive: They can reflect how effectively a government meets basic needs, serving as an indicator of administrative performance.

Arguments Against Freebies

Fiscal Burden: Funding freebies can stretch government budgets and divert money from essential long-term sectors like infrastructure, health, and education.
Dependency: They may encourage reliance on state aid, creating entitlement instead of promoting self-reliance or sustainable livelihoods.
Inefficiency: Freebies often fail to resolve the deeper structural causes of poverty, offering temporary relief rather than lasting solutions.
Populism: Their use can be a strategy to influence voters, compromising election integrity and democratic fairness.
Unsustainability: Over time, such schemes can become financially unviable, risking fiscal instability or forcing higher taxation.

Important SC Judgements on Freebies

Subramaniam Balaji vs. State of Tamil Nadu (2013): The Court upheld that political parties can promise freebies but stressed they should be implemented responsibly.
- It also held that only an individual candidate—not the party—can be accused of corrupt practice for promising free gifts.
PIL on Freebies (2022): The Supreme Court did not issue an immediate ruling but directed the Election Commission to study the matter and provide suggestions.
- It also expressed concerns about the long-term viability of such promises and their implications for effective governance.

Way Ahead

Regulation: Clear rules could be framed to ensure freebies are purposeful, targeted, and consistent with long-term welfare priorities rather than short-term electoral tactics.
Electoral Reform: The Election Commission may enforce tighter checks on pre-poll promises to prevent excessive offers that distort electoral fairness.
Fiscal Prudence: Both states and the Centre must adopt financially responsible strategies so welfare programmes remain viable without creating heavy debt burdens.
Public Awareness: Citizens should be informed about the consequences of unsustainable freebies, encouraging demand for policies focused on jobs, development, and long-term growth.

International

2. China’s Military Exercise Near Taiwan & Its Significance for India

Context

China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) recently carried out an extensive military drill around Taiwan called ‘Justice Mission-2025’.

About the ‘Justice Mission-2025’

This was a major PLA exercise staged in the waters and airspace surrounding Taiwan.
It marked the second significant drill of the year, intended to showcase China’s determination to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity while signalling a warning to pro-independence forces in Taiwan and external actors, especially the United States.

Objectives:

Uphold China’s sovereignty and national unification;
Discourage moves towards Taiwanese independence;
Push back against outside involvement (mainly the U.S. and Japan).

The drill is associated with the Trump administration’s $11-billion arms package for Taiwan, including howitzers, advanced rocket systems, and missile platforms awaiting U.S. Congressional clearance.

Key Features

Multi-Domain Strategy:

The exercise stressed “three-dimensional deterrence,” combining land, naval, and air operations.
Its focus was on improving the PLA’s ability to impose blockades, enhance combat preparedness, and strengthen overall dominance.

Air Activities:

Over 130 aircraft sorties were launched on the opening day.
Notably, 90 aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line, an unusual and escalatory step breaking earlier informal limits.

Rocket & Missile Drills:

On day two, China executed long-range rocket launches.

Ten projectiles fell inside Taiwan’s contiguous zone — the closest impact ever recorded during such exercises.

Impact on India’s Strategic Interests

Implications for India’s Security Outlook

India interprets the PLA’s aggression around Taiwan as part of a larger pattern of Chinese military assertiveness, also visible through:
Hostile actions along the LAC in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh,
China’s heightened posture in the South China Sea and East China Sea.

Consequences for India’s Indo-Pacific Vision

The Taiwan drill strengthens India’s conviction that collective deterrence through the QUAD (India, U.S., Japan, Australia) is essential.
It stresses the urgency of improving maritime domain awareness.
The episode may hasten joint naval engagements such as Malabar, especially those centred on anti-blockade operations and freedom of navigation.

Strengthening India–Japan Collaboration

With Japan stating that a Chinese assault on Taiwan threatens its own national security,
India and Japan may intensify defence coordination and intelligence-sharing.
Frameworks like the India–Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership and the AAGC could gain momentum as development alternatives to China’s BRI.

Maritime & Trade Challenges

Any conflict in the Taiwan Strait destabilises major Indo-Pacific shipping corridors. Over 55% of India’s trade and most of its energy supplies from East Asia rely on these routes.

A crisis could:

Obstruct shipping routes to Japan and South Korea;
Raise freight and insurance rates;
Disrupt energy logistics dependent on South China Sea pathways.

Expansion of India’s Operational Role

The Indian Navy may revise its doctrine to maintain constant surveillance in the Malacca Strait and approaches to the South China Sea.
Partnerships with Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines could deepen via logistics agreements and coordinated patrols.

Balancing Relations with China and Taiwan

India officially supports the One-China Policy, though informal relations with Taiwan have grown in sectors like semiconductors, investment, education, and skilling.
India is likely to continue practicing strategic ambiguity — affirming One-China publicly while quietly enhancing cooperation with Taiwan.

Impact on India’s Defence Modernisation

The PLA’s display of joint-force capabilities highlights areas India must strengthen:
Greater focus on network-centric warfare and integrated tri-service structures.
India’s planned Theatre Commands can draw lessons from the PLA’s joint training model.
China’s long-range missile firings may push India to fast-track indigenous systems like Agni-V MIRV and hypersonic weapons.

Conclusion & Way Forward

China’s Taiwan drills create substantial strategic, economic, and security concerns for India, stressing the need to balance ties with the U.S. and Quad partners while managing its complex relationship with China.
Key risks include semiconductor disruptions, instability in regional sea lanes, and the demand for a stronger Indian naval footprint in the Indo-Pacific.
India is likely to follow a cautious yet assertive approach — upholding a rules-based order, strengthening Quad cooperation, and enhancing maritime and technological resilience.